Tall ships Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain, accurate replicas of 18th and 19th-century sailing vessels, will make their way to ports along the Oregon and Washington coast through July with stops in Coos Bay, Newport, Astoria, Garibaldi, Ilwaco, Aberdeen and Westport.

The Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain, accurate replicas of 18th and 19th-century sailing vessels, will offer visitors the opportunity to experience history as they make their way to ports along the Oregon and Washington coast through July. The tall ships, named for the towering height of their masts, will arrive in Coos Bay on March 26 and begin offering tours and excursions, then will sail north along the coast with stops in Newport, Astoria, Garibaldi, Ilwaco, Aberdeen and Westport.

In Coos Bay, there are three ways to experience these ships with a self-guided tour, a Battle Sail excursion and an Adventure Sail excursion. A Battle Sail is a three-hour cruise in which the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain engage in a mock sea battle with small cannons and intricate maneuvering. An Adventure Sail is a three-hour, sea cruise in which guests may participate in the operation of an 18th-century tall ship: raising sails, taking the helm, and hearing stories of how ships explored the west coast of North America. Self-guided tours are hosted by the crew wearing period costumes. A donation of $3 is requested for the self-guided tours, the Adventure Sail tickets are $35 and the Battle Sail tickets are offered at $60 for adults, $50 for seniors 62 and over, students, and active military. Tickets for children 12 years and under are $40. The Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain will be in Coos Bay until April 6.

From Coos Bay, the tall ships set sail for Newport and can be visited April 9-12. In Garibaldi, tours run from April 14-17, then stops include Ilwaco May 3, Aberdeen May 6-11, Westport May 13-15 and back to Ilwaco May 18. From Ilwaco on May 19 guests can book passage to Astoria where the ships will offer tours until May 22, coinciding with Astoria's opening celebration of its 200th birthday. For the remainder of the ship's schedule through July, click on the link below.

The Lady Washington replica, whose mast height reaches 89 feet and overall length is 112 feet, was thoroughly researched by historians and constructed by skilled shipwrights. The first Lady Washington was built in the British Colony of Massachusetts in the 1750s. The original vessel carried freight between colonial ports until the American Revolutionary War, when she became an American privateer. The replica was launched as part of the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebration.

The topsail ketch Hawaiian Chieftain is a replica of a typical European merchant trader of the turn of the nineteenth century. Her hull shape and rigging are similar to those of Spanish explorer's ships used in the expeditions of the late 18th century along the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts. Mast height is 75 feet. Both ships adhere to current Coast Guard safety standards for 21st century vessels. For more information on the tall ships, contact the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority in Aberdeen (360) 532-8611 or (800) 200-5239.